Nigeria: A Religious Framing of Grievances

The Nigeria case study compares Boko Haram with the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). Boko Haram and MEND are both violent movements that emerged from the socially and economically marginalised regions of Nigeria. Both groups attract recruits by exploiting socio-economic and political grievances, but Boko Haram’s religious framing of these grievances creates space for internal divergence and contestation. Beneath the religious framing, Boko Haram is, like MEND, a response to and sustained by chronic governance failures in Nigeria. These failures will need to be addressed for Boko Haram to be neutralised. The fundamental nature of Boko Haram’s challenge to the Nigerian state means that its leadership is unlikely to be prepared to negotiate on its sacred aims and values. Its lack of cohesion may however present entry points to weaken the group. Boko Haram has already suffered one significant splintering: more may be possible.